Big Throne to Fill

Put yourself behind Tony Palermo’s drum set for a second. How would you feel if you were given the opportunity to replace a highly regarded punk drummer like Wade Youman in Unwritten Law, a band that has been around for over 10 years and has six full-length albums under their belt? I don’t know about most of you, but I’d be pretty damn intimidated. But Palermo uses that pressure as the drive to grab the daunting task by the throat and prove to the punk community that he has the chops to provide the rhythmic background to take over Wade Youman’s place in the formidable pop-rock force Unwritten Law.
If anyone would be up to the challenge, it would be Palermo. This punk stalwart has pounded the skins for a diverse array of bands, from melodic hardcore mainstays Pulley and Ten Foot Pole to pop-rockers The Jealous Sound.
But all that talent and experience doesn’t mean Palermo wasn’t a little bit anxious about joining up: “I was like wait, they got rid of one of their main guys, and I have to live up to that? That’s been kind of intimidating but at the same time I try not to pay attention to it that much. I try and focus on being the best that we can live. And I’m sure we’re kick ass live.”
Great musicians enjoy being pushed to new heights creatively, and Palermo is no different. “The thing I like about playing in this band live is that the set consists of so many different songs that are pretty much all fun to play,” he says. “It’s cool because it’s not just the same set the whole way through, or the same tempo. One thing that I’m really stoked on about being a part of this is that it’s fun.”
Creative challenges aren’t the only thing that Palermo is going to have to overcome at his new home with Unwritten Law. On Unwritten Law’s online message board a fan posted a thread titled “Tony ‘Lack of Style’ Palermo” which reads: “[Palermo] has no style… I’m just having an outburst because I had so much respect for Wade’s skill…and now some ‘nobody’ comes in and takes his place.” The diehard fans turn out to be the most scathing critics in this scenario, but Palermo is poised to convince every one of his disbelievers, one show at a time.
“I don’t look at that stuff as negative,” he says. “When there’s change, people expect people to fail, and we don’t want that to happen. It’s more incentive for us to go out and play a better show.”
These tests of the band’s unity and perseverance seem to be one of the things that fueled the title of the new album, Here’s to the Mourning. “Basically, we’re thinking it has a double meaning,” Palermo says. “You know, ‘Here’s to the Mourning’ spelled m-o-r-n-i-n-g. That’s just like the band being on tour, and being up in the morning, basically. And then whatever mourning you apply that to. Some people might say it’s an association with Wade leaving or something. I haven’t heard that yet, but I can see that. ‘Here’s to the Mourning’ like…let’s move on, or something like that.”
There is an assortment of pressures that come along with joining a band as big as Unwritten Law, but these details don’t appear to affect Palermo’s optimism. During the interview he seemed to rise above all the shit talking and focus more on the excitement of getting on the road and showing off their new album.
“I think it’s a really strong rock record,” he says. “There’s probably something for everyone. It’s typical Unwritten Law. There’s no formula, there’s no one style; all around, just a really solid rock record.”
Palermo isn’t tooting his own band’s horn, either. Unwritten Law’s new album Here’s to the Mourning is a well-focused power pop treat with ripping guitar lines, solid drumming and punchy melodies that are catchy enough to dominate the stereos of radio connoisseurs nationwide.
Much of the ear-friendly recording of Here’s to the Mourning comes from working with recording guru Sean Beaven, who is known mostly for his production efforts on Nine Inch Nails’ classic The Downward Spiral. “He did such an amazing job,” Palermo says. “He is just a producer that has so much knowledge. It is just really cool to be around him during the sessions, even when I wasn’t recording.”
Not only did Beaven hook up the band with some amazing sound work, he also told them some amusing anecdotes about what it was like recording with Trent Reznor. “[Beaven] was telling us when he was doing Downward Spiral that he had to be ready to record vocals at any time,” Palermo relates. “Basically how he worked it was Trent played video games, like all day. And then one point, in the early evening or something, he’d say ‘alright…I’m ready to go.’ I thought that was pretty funny.”
Palermo has nothing to worry about concerning his role with Unwritten Law because he is a real dude who’s played with some great bands and has a grueling work ethic. Here’s to the Mourning was released Feb. 1st, and anyone whose ears have grown tired of the blandness of Simple Plan or the ridiculousness of Story of the Year should give the new album a listen. I dare you to try and get their new single “Save Me” out of your head. Go on…try.

Bookmark:

Comments down for maintenance.